Eastern German States
Germany comprises 16 federal states, among which five belong to the eastern region. These states are: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Below is a brief overview of each of these states:
Brandenburg
The state of Brandenburg extends eastward from the Oder and Neisse rivers to the Elbe region in the west, and stretches north from the Mecklenburg Lake District to Lower Lusatia in the south. It completely surrounds the city of Berlin, covering a total area of approximately 29,476 square kilometers.
Brandenburg’s official capital is Potsdam, which is also its largest city. The state comprises 14 districts, with a population estimated at 2,455,780 according to 2011 statistics. Notably, Brandenburg is distinguished by its numerous protected areas and national parks, making it a popular destination for tourists each year.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Located on the Baltic Sea coast, the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern spans an area of around 23,170 square kilometers. The official capital city is Schwerin, which is the largest city in the state and has a population of approximately 1,609,982, based on 2011 statistics.
Saxony
Saxony shares its eastern border with Poland, with Thuringia to the west, Bavaria to the southwest, the Czech Republic to the south, Brandenburg to the north, and Saxony-Anhalt to the northwest. The capital of Saxony is Dresden.
The total area of Saxony is about 18,413 square kilometers, making it the tenth largest state in Germany. Leipzig is the largest city, while the total population stands at approximately 4,056,799, according to the 2011 census, positioning it as the sixth most populous state.
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is situated in central Germany and is bordered by Brandenburg to the east, Saxony to the south, Thuringia to the southwest, and Lower Saxony to the northwest. It covers a total area of around 20,447 square kilometers, ranking as the eighth largest state in Germany.
The capital city of Saxony-Anhalt is Magdeburg, while other notable cities include Dessau and Halle, the latter being the largest city in the state. According to the 2011 census, the total population is approximately 2,287,040, making it the tenth largest state by population.
One of the defining features of Saxony-Anhalt is that it houses the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany. The majority of its landscape consists of plains, with the Harz mountain range rising in the southwestern part.
Thuringia
Thuringia is located in central Germany, bordered by Lower Saxony to the northwest, Saxony-Anhalt to the northeast, Saxony to the southeast, Bavaria to the south, and Hesse to the west. The total area of Thuringia is approximately 16,172 square kilometers.
The official capital is Erfurt, which is also the largest city in the state. According to 2006 census data, the total population of Thuringia was around 2,334,575.